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What a nice day for a little jaunt though the Dix's. The biggest bonus was the excellent company for the day. After spending all summer hiking with the same guy he was starting to get on my nerves and the conversations.. well they were less than stellar.
Got a PM from Una_dogger last week asking if I was available to knock of some of the Dix range with she and Terra. Finally I could. Been trying to get together with people all summer and through no fault of anyone but perhaps myself have not been able to, and then for the extra added bonus I found out that High on life would join us, I knew it would be an excellent day.
We started out from Elk Lake at 6:30 and since HOL had done this hike several times she took the lead down the Dix trail as I hiked up my skirt in order to keep pace. (Neil she has gotten even faster than when we did Seymour last winter ) Actually the pace was perfect as we made good time on the flats. This was my first time up Macomb from this side, and by trail. I really did not keep track of time since I knew it would not be an issue but before you knew it we reached the cairn marking the HP just on the far side of Slide brook after you cross the 1 rail bridge. The first thing we all noticed was the excellent trail work, with all the blowdown trimmed it hardly felt like a herd path at all. Thanks to all those whose hard work was so beneficial to us. We started the moderate ascent to the base of the slide enjoying the wonderful weather and near constant conversations making the time and miles just fly by.
The Slide climb was different than I have experienced to this point in the ADK's. More Rockie's type with loose rock and scree, not bad but different and as Terra just bounded up ahead of us on all fours ( remember Sabrina , Nancy said that) as we worked our way up at a slightly slower pace enjoying the views that get better and better as you climb. I was surprised to find that there was actually some glaze ice on the wet rock, especially considering the mild temps so we just avoided the "shiny" rocks as we ascended. We stopped to take pictures at the large rock at the top of the slide and then headed back into the tree's for the short trip to the summit.
Brief stop for snacks and congrat's to Sabrina for another peak we headed down the HP to Carson. This trip had different elements from the last time i did this, namely tree's! Don't remember those when we did this last winter but I did vividly recall the final climb to the summit and this time we took in the sights a little longer. Though the skys were a little hazy the views still are great.
Off to Grace, Slightly longer walk than the one to Carson and As we worked our way along the ridge I tryed my best to outline the trip that I had done last winter with Niel and MG. Though I was not well at the time that was an excellent adventure and looking at the West ridge of Wyman I got cold just recalling the wind that day, I really want to do that trip again sometime.
Grace is a special mountain, it just has that combination of welcoming approach, great views but easterly cliffs that demand respect. I imagine these qualities could also describe Grace. Once again snacks and snapshots and back to Carson, Nancy had wisely dropped her pack and we retreived it and headed off and down and up and down again as we headed over to Hough.
Hough was the only peak in this range I had not been on yet and I had looked at different approaches all summer, but thanks to Sabrina and HOL I did not have to solo it. Now I was aware that there was a HP down lillian brook from the col between Hough and the bump but did not know where or what condition it was in. I had scoped it out in advanced and decided that If we did not find it I would push for a bushwhack, fortunately Sabrina had the McMartin Map with her that shoed both the HP and the Slide trail so we would not have to bushwhack.
We found the cairn marking the HP at the col before heading up Hough. It is to the west of the open area that is obviuosly a favorite place for campfires.
We continued on excited about the prospect of exploring this trail on the way back rather than retrace our steps all the way back.
Summitted Hough and for a change had snacks, snapshots and Congrats for Sabrins who now has 40 peak and Hough gave me 39.
Down Hough to the Lillian brook HP. What a great trail Soft, easy downclimbing even on the steep top section. very open and well maintained. This really just added to the perfect, weather and company for a fantastic day.
We worked our way back to the lot and HOL had sprinted, yes sprinted the last half mile ahead of us, a machine I tell you When Sabrina and I reached the lot at about 3:20 I was gretted with a birthday brownie and singing candle, and HOL making this one of my best adventures to date.
Thanks Sooooooo Much Nancy and Sabrina for letting me be one of the girls for the day.
Got a PM from Una_dogger last week asking if I was available to knock of some of the Dix range with she and Terra. Finally I could. Been trying to get together with people all summer and through no fault of anyone but perhaps myself have not been able to, and then for the extra added bonus I found out that High on life would join us, I knew it would be an excellent day.
We started out from Elk Lake at 6:30 and since HOL had done this hike several times she took the lead down the Dix trail as I hiked up my skirt in order to keep pace. (Neil she has gotten even faster than when we did Seymour last winter ) Actually the pace was perfect as we made good time on the flats. This was my first time up Macomb from this side, and by trail. I really did not keep track of time since I knew it would not be an issue but before you knew it we reached the cairn marking the HP just on the far side of Slide brook after you cross the 1 rail bridge. The first thing we all noticed was the excellent trail work, with all the blowdown trimmed it hardly felt like a herd path at all. Thanks to all those whose hard work was so beneficial to us. We started the moderate ascent to the base of the slide enjoying the wonderful weather and near constant conversations making the time and miles just fly by.
The Slide climb was different than I have experienced to this point in the ADK's. More Rockie's type with loose rock and scree, not bad but different and as Terra just bounded up ahead of us on all fours ( remember Sabrina , Nancy said that) as we worked our way up at a slightly slower pace enjoying the views that get better and better as you climb. I was surprised to find that there was actually some glaze ice on the wet rock, especially considering the mild temps so we just avoided the "shiny" rocks as we ascended. We stopped to take pictures at the large rock at the top of the slide and then headed back into the tree's for the short trip to the summit.
Brief stop for snacks and congrat's to Sabrina for another peak we headed down the HP to Carson. This trip had different elements from the last time i did this, namely tree's! Don't remember those when we did this last winter but I did vividly recall the final climb to the summit and this time we took in the sights a little longer. Though the skys were a little hazy the views still are great.
Off to Grace, Slightly longer walk than the one to Carson and As we worked our way along the ridge I tryed my best to outline the trip that I had done last winter with Niel and MG. Though I was not well at the time that was an excellent adventure and looking at the West ridge of Wyman I got cold just recalling the wind that day, I really want to do that trip again sometime.
Grace is a special mountain, it just has that combination of welcoming approach, great views but easterly cliffs that demand respect. I imagine these qualities could also describe Grace. Once again snacks and snapshots and back to Carson, Nancy had wisely dropped her pack and we retreived it and headed off and down and up and down again as we headed over to Hough.
Hough was the only peak in this range I had not been on yet and I had looked at different approaches all summer, but thanks to Sabrina and HOL I did not have to solo it. Now I was aware that there was a HP down lillian brook from the col between Hough and the bump but did not know where or what condition it was in. I had scoped it out in advanced and decided that If we did not find it I would push for a bushwhack, fortunately Sabrina had the McMartin Map with her that shoed both the HP and the Slide trail so we would not have to bushwhack.
We found the cairn marking the HP at the col before heading up Hough. It is to the west of the open area that is obviuosly a favorite place for campfires.
We continued on excited about the prospect of exploring this trail on the way back rather than retrace our steps all the way back.
Summitted Hough and for a change had snacks, snapshots and Congrats for Sabrins who now has 40 peak and Hough gave me 39.
Down Hough to the Lillian brook HP. What a great trail Soft, easy downclimbing even on the steep top section. very open and well maintained. This really just added to the perfect, weather and company for a fantastic day.
We worked our way back to the lot and HOL had sprinted, yes sprinted the last half mile ahead of us, a machine I tell you When Sabrina and I reached the lot at about 3:20 I was gretted with a birthday brownie and singing candle, and HOL making this one of my best adventures to date.
Thanks Sooooooo Much Nancy and Sabrina for letting me be one of the girls for the day.
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